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and infipid: the events frequently improbable, and the characters of the common caft. We with the lady fome better employ

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MISCELLANEOUS.

An Efay on Duelling. Written with a View to discountenance this barbarous and difgraceful Practice. 800. Is. Debrett. 1792. The author of this Efay makes many just observations on the pernicious practice of duelling; which, with many others who have written on the fame fubject, he zealously endeavours to difcountenance. He thinks that this can only be fuccefsfully effected by fome law, which will impose upon the practice a durable and difgraceful penalty. Indeed fuch a law feems the best adapted for counteracting the general principle on which this barbarous and immoral combat is founded.

The Proceedings in Parliament, relative to the Origin and Progress of the War in India. 7s. Boards. Debrett. 1792.

This volume comprehends the debates on Mr. Hippiíley's mo-. tions in the house of commons, and lord Portchester's in the house of lords: Mr. Dundas's India budget, &c. with an Appendix, containing the late treaties with the Mahrattas and the Nizam; the treaty with Tippo Sultan; extracts from the reports of the fecret committee on the affairs of India; copies of all official information from the London Gazettes; with other papers, connected with the subject of the war, and policy of the treaties.

As a Review is not the vehicle of parliamentary debates, or treaties, we have only to inform our readers, that the compiler of the volume is one of thofe politicians who reprobrate the origin of the prefent war in the Eaft Indies.

Commentaries on the Conftitution of the United States of America, with that Conftitution prefixed, in which are unfolded the Principles of Free Government, and the Superior Advantages of Repubcanifm demonftrated. By J. Wilson, LL. D. 8vo. 35. Debrett. 1792.

Thefe Commentaries chiefly confift of the debates of congrefs on the conftitution, recommended by the convention: they display the temper, the candour, and the political knowledge, of the delegates in a very advantageous view.

The Jockey Club, or a Sketch of the Manners of the Age. 8vo. 45. Symonds. 1792.

An unpleafing fpecimen of the manners of the age,' drawn in the darkest colours. Scarcely any one escapes; and from this indifcriminate cenfurer we cannot expect any proper character. The greatest warmth of his indignation is, however, directed CR. R. N. AR. (IV.) April, 1792. Kk

against

against the P―e of W-s, for we dare not fill up what he has left in obfcurity. From this part we fhall felect a fpecimen.

The only clue to guide our judgment, in regard to future expectation, mufl be from the line of conduct hitherto pursued, and from thence what are we to expect? When the mistaken liberality of the nation chearfully acquiefced in paying a fum of money, granted for the purpose of discharging certain debts, it was under the fandtion of an implied engagement, that every useless expence was to be lopped off, the establishment diminished, and a syftematic plan of economy adopted. To encourage this hope, pending the business, duft was caft into the eyes of the public. The moft flattering afurances were generally held out: race-horses, coach-horfes, hounds, &c. &c. were publicly fold; nor could it have been imagined that, in fo young a mind, hypocrify had taken fuch deep root: but what was the fcene which a very few months difclofed? No fooner had parliament voted this money, than decency was fet at defiance, public opinion fcorned, the turf establishment revived in a more ruinous ftyle than ever, the wide field of diffipation and extravagance enlarged, fresh debts concrafted to an enormous amount, which it is neither in his own, or the nation's power to discharge, and strong doubts entertained that the money voted by parliament was not applied to the purpose for which it was granted. Had a private individual acted in like manner, he would have become the outcalt of his family, and the whole world had abandoned him: but in the cafe before us, where the example is ten thousand times more contagious, such a flagrant breach of faith, fuch bafe ingratitude, has hardly receiv ed the flightest animadverfion.'

If this were fo, fo were it uttered; but, in thefe dangerous times, rafh experiments will be avoided; and, from the late difpofition of the houfe, any future application to fupply the means of diffipation will not probably be fucceísful. Our author need not, therefore, be uneafy on this account; but he has fo many fources of diftrefs, that even the manly refolution displayed by fome of the members on the late application to parliament, an application much more popular, will add but little to his relief. Advice to the privileged Orders of the feveral States of Europe, reJulting from the Neceffity and Propriety of a general Revolution in the Principle of Government. Part I. 8vo. 35. Johnfon. 1792. We announce the prefent work only at this time, for we mean to return to it on the publication of the fecond Part. It will then appear what credit is to be given to the author's affertion. As we are certain, that it is not actually (actuellement) true, we fufpect that it is not prophetically fo.

The French revolution is at laft not only accomplished, but

its accomplishment univerfally acknowledged, beyond contradiction abroad, or the power of retraction at home.'

A Narrative of the lofs of the Grosvenor Eaft Indiaman, which was unfortunately wrecked upon the Coast of Caffraria, on the 4th of Auguft, 1782. Compiled from the Examination of J. Hynes. By Mr. G. Carter. 8.vo. 35. Boards. Murray. 1791.

In our Lvith volume, p. 240, we noticed the first account of the fate of fome of the, unhappy furvivors of this calamity: the greater number perifhed after incredible hardships, and met death in its moft dreadful form. This account differs in many refpects from the former, fince it contains the adventures of a different party. Unfortunately all fubordination was at an end, and there was not a fufficient degree of personal influence to induce the whole number to co-operate in one defign; the only method which has occafioned a favourable termination of fimilar calamities, and at least one of thofe fituations in which the boasted rights and natural equality of man will not apply. The calamity muft have happened nearly fo far north as the Mofambic Channel, or Hynes must have multiplied the rivers that he paffed, and the calamities he endured. There is, on the whole, an air of candour in the Narrative, and Mr. Carter has not weakened the pathos by an affectation of fentimental refinement. It is an interesting story, properly related: we have only to regret, with our author, that want of fubordination which, by uniting the powers of all, might have impelled them to an effectual and fuccessful exertion.

A foort Account of the Affairs of Ireland during the Years 1783, 4,
and part of 5. In a Letter from a Clergyman in Ireland to his
Friend in America. 8vo.
Debrett. 1792.

25.

This Account, though short, is apparently candid and dispasfionate. It comprehends the period of the congrefs, of the attempts to reform the reprefentation, and of the commercial propofitions. The author feems the decided friend of Mr. Flood, whom he follows and defends in fome apparent tergiverfations. The Grumbler: containing Sixteen Essays, by the late F. Grofe, Esq. F. A. S. 12780. Is. 6d. Hooper. 1791.

Thefe little Effays are the production of the late facetious Mr. Grofe: they were addreffed to the editor of a periodical paper, his intimate friend, and probably published by him. The author feems to delight, and to excel, in familiar defcriptions of uncommon characters and peculiar purfuits. He is at all times easy, fprightly, and good humoured; and we would recommend his Effays, as a pleafing companion in a poft-chaife, or a chearful entertainer during the bleak easterly winds of spring, when fire is ftill agreeable. We cannot felect a more humorous (or, it is faid, a more faithful)

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faithful) defcription than that which he gives of himself. We fhall prefer, however, the more interefting paffages.

To begin with my age-I am fomewhat paft fifty, and, though of a hale conftitution, I have nevertheless received various bodily items and hints, that I am not exactly what I was twenty years ago. Now, as the idea of a decline is by no means an agreeable one, I comfort myself by attributing every ach and pain to the changeable weather of our climate, with which, using the freedom of an Englishman, I am continually finding fault. I am alfo fometimes led to conceive the ladies do not treat me with their ufual attention; but this I charge to the extreme folly of the prefent times, which I cannot, however, help condemning.

The make of my perfon is not a little calculated to produce difcontent; for though my body contains as many cubic inches of flesh as would form a perfonal man, thefe are fo partially diftribu ted, that my circumference is nearly double my height; added to this, I have that appendage to my back, which is by vulgar natu ralifts held as a mark of nobility, entitling the bearer to the ap pellation of My Lord. The frequent recapitulation of this title makes me diflike to stir abroad on foot; I cannot ride on horfeback, and have not a fufficient income to afford a carriage, except on extraordinary occafions.'

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Having, from thefe and various other circumftances, acquired a habit of grumbling on all occafions, and having neither wife, children, nieces, or dependants, the common objects on whom thefe acrimonious particles are ufually discharged, I have by degrees grumbled away all my acquaintances, except one old deaf lady, and thereby at length found my error, and in vain en deavoured to correct it; but, alas! it has taken too deep root in my conftitution. This has obliged me to alter my plan, and convert this difpofition to the public fervice, by venting my spleen on the vices and follies of the times. If by accident it should in any inftance produce a reformation, I fhall have done fome good; if not, it will at least, in a fcarcity of news, ferve to fill up a fpace in your paper, and fave you the trouble of reviving fome bloody murder, or fabricating fome wonderful fea-monfter driven afhore near Deal or Dover.'

Curfory Criticisms on the Edition of Shakspeare published by Edmond Malone. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Hookham. 1792.

Is it? No, it cannot be. Yet what other pen drops fuch gall, what other tongue can utter fuch abuse? There were fome remarks on the last edition of Shakspeare, published in 1783, which we noticed in our Lvith volume, with a full proportion of complaifance to the Remarker, not without reprehending many in

proper

proper paffages, and much exceptionable conduct. We have, therefore, drawn down on ourselves the fullest torrent of the moit contemptible abuse, which we share with Mr. Malone and the authors of the Monthly Review. But we are well contented with the abuse of fuch authors, and we can bid him farewell without feeling one spark of refentment. His anger against Mr. Malone is excited by his preferring the quartos to the folios, and the first to the fecond folio. In defence of his darling folios, he is perfectly Quixotic: we fhall imitate one of the knight's antagonists; and, having looked at this redoubtable hero in his terrifying form, quietly return to our den,' and fleep, unprovoked to the combat.

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The Principles of the French Conftitution, tranflated from the Catechifme de la Conftitutione of M. Nyon, to which is added, The Principles of Government. 8vo. 25. Jordan. 1792.

This catéchifm we have already noticed. The Dialogue, now firft added to it, is reprehenfible in its fubftance, and not applicable in the tenour of its argument. The reafoning is exactly fuch as will captivate the peafant, without the smallest foundation in good fenfe, when applied to the extensive scale which is the object of the Scholar. It is teaching a child to cry for the moon, because by this means he has obtained a filver medal. The Life of Mrs. Goach, written by Herfelf, dedicated to the Public. 3 Vols. 12mo. 95. Kearfley. 1792.

The prefent rage for anecdotes, and for information respecting the indifcretions of the great, may render thefle volumes acceptable, and the lady may attain her purpose.-We can only add, to every reflecting mind and feeling heart, the accounts will be painful; for fcarcely of any one, introduced in this volume, are there half as many indifcretions recorded as of herfelf:

• We thought fo once, but now we know it.”

Confiderations on the Caufes of the high Price of Grain, and other Articles of Provifion, for a Number of Years back; and Propofitions for reducing them: with occafional Remarks. By Catharine Phillips. 8vo. 2. Phillips. 1792.

Mrs. Phillips confiders the high rents of land as the principal caufe of the dearnefs of provifions; and the chief remedy propofed is therefore the reduction of those rents. This measure, the obferves, will probably not meet with the approbation of the landed-interest: but she reminds all those of this description, that they might bear a reduction in the rents of their eftates, if their expences in houfe-keeping fhould be reduced at the fame time; and this, the endeavours to convince them, would certainly be the cafe.

Mrs.

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